Category Archives: Mixed Media

Hello, Friends! It’s time for another challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie blog. Autumn is our lovely hostess this go round, and she has issued a dare: Dare to Resist! With this challenge in mind, I’ve created a mini Discover Dragonfly Junk Journal for you today. We’ll take a look at it in just a moment, but first, let’s see what Autumn has to say;

Challenge Theme: Dare to Resist
Happy Valentine’s Day dear readers! For the next two weeks, as we break away from our Valentine creations, we’d love to see you incorporate a favorite resist technique in your vintage or shabby chic project. There are so many options, perhaps you will try something new. Whether it be gesso resist, Vaseline resist, alcohol resist, embossing resist, or watercolor resist, we dare you to resist!

Discover Dragonfly Junk Journal with an easy resist technique

I’m really not much of a mixed media girl. Paper is my jam. But this challenge reminded me that I can stamp, and I do like to get inky, and playing with techniques can be fun. Messy fun, but fun all the same. This started as a 4.75″ x 6.25″ gatefold card base .

So, this is the gatefold card that thought it should be a junk journal. We (the card and I) had quite a protracted argument about what it was going to be. But as you can see, the junk journal won the fight. Does that ever happen to you? You set out to make one thing, and you end up making something entirely different?

Discover Dragonfly Junk Journal: I Dared to Resist!

Here are the basic steps of my resist technique. It’s a basic emboss/resist with a Tim Holtz twist. I saw Tim demo this technique at CHA and instantly knew that I wanted to give it a try at home.

First, find a piece of Alcohol Ink Cardstock. And yes, it must be Alcohol Ink CS, or the twist won’t work!

Next, place the Alcohol Ink CS on the Stamp Platform, securing it with the magnets.

Now, position the dragonfly image from TH Classics #1 where you want it to be on the cardstock panel.

Then close the lid of the Stamp Platform and make sure the placement is correct.

Now, ink the stamp with Jet Black Archival Ink and stamp away! Repeat until the image looks as dark as you want it to be.

Tap (don’t drag or swish!) the stamped image in the inky puddles, drying between layers.

The Twist

Now here’s the best part of this technique, and it’s one I learned watching Tim. Get out your Distress Micro Glaze and gently twist a mini ink blending tool over the medium. Then use the blending tool to gently buff up the surface of the inky panel and watch the magic happen. The milky, oxidized appearance of the inks will disappear and all the gorgeous layers of color beneath will pop through. It’s like crafting magic!

Resist again!

The other resist techinque I used was on this quote band. I love to fill in the letters of the quote, but sometimes have a hard time with the process. I started wondering what would happen if I used the Distress Micro Glaze on the word band first. So I just lightly sponged it over the surface. Then I came back with Picked Raspberry Distress Paint and dabbed it over the top. The metal resisted the paint, but…it sunk right into the letters, which was what I was hoping would happen.

Details, details, details

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Next I went to work making my flowers. First I die cut Tammy Tutterow’s Pinked Posies, Frayed Posies and Pinwheel Posies from the Wallflower paper collection. Then I used sponge daubers to add DOX to each petal layer. Next, I spritz, shaped and stacked. Finally, I punched holes in the center of each flower and added stamens. To add a little vintage shimmer, I sprayed each flower lightly with Tattered Angels Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist.

I also experimented with making my own Prills (those itty bitty bead looking critters) with mustard seeds and alcohol ink. It worked like a charm.

To finish the cover, I added some TH remnant rubs and a hinge clip.

Discover Dragonfly Junk Journal: A Peek Inside

Here’s where I really began to have fun. I gathered up a whole pile of TH ephemera, my paper dolls, remnant rubs, stickers and had a ball. I dug through my stash and found a whole pile of fabulous Wendy Vecchi sentiments that were perfect for the theme of my journal. And, I just added DOX to brighten up everything.

Once I embraced the idea of turning this card into a junk journal, everything just fell into place. I added flap pages and folded pages and flip pages. This is the very best kind of crafty adventure for me. I think these pictures will tell the story all on their own. Enjoy!

The things I like best about this Discover Dragonfly Junk Journal are the worn/distressed pages and the small size. It’s only about 1/4″ thick, so easy to toss into a suitcase and use on a trip. Plus, I had a blast making it. What do you like best about it?

Discover Dragonfly Junk Journal Video Tour

Because I find it easier to understand an interactive project when I can see it being used, I’ve prepared a short YouTube video tour for you. I hope you enjoy!

The Frilly and Funkie team will choose four favorite projects from your entries. Our favorite artist will be invited to join us as a Guest Designer at Frilly and Funkie. The next three winners will receive Top 3 badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

Did I share some tips and tricks today that you can use in your own crafty adventures? If so,, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

White Christmas Etcetera Shaker Tag Snapguide Tutorial

Hello, Friends! Happy Saturday! I’m up on the Frilly and Funkie Blog today with a Saturday Step x Step. For your convenience, I’m also posting the White Christmas Etcetera Shaker Tag Snapguide Tutorial here on my blog. This is the project I made for the Most Memorable Gift Challenge at Frilly and Funkie. You can find the original post HERE.

The tutorial focuses on the steps I used to create the shaker window element, prepare the tag base and add the basic layers. I hope you enjoy!

Hello, Friends! Time for a new challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie blog. I’ve created this spook-tacular Halloween Night Etcetera Tag to go along with the challenge theme set by the frightfully fabulous Sara Emily. Before we take a look at the tag, let’s see what Sara has to say about this fun challenge.

Challenge Theme: ‘Tis Near Halloween

It’s no secret. I.Love.Halloween. With Halloween just a few weeks away, I challenge you to create a vintage or shabby chic project with a Halloween theme. If Halloween isn’t your thing, that’s OK–just be sure to include orange, black and purple in your vintage or shabby chic project (These colors are not required if your theme is Halloween.) It would be a grave mistake to miss this challenge!

Prima Amber Moon Shines on this Halloween Night Etcetera Tag

After giving this challenge some thought, I decided to try to take this Halloween Night Etcetera Tag in a shabby chic direction. So I pulled out my beloved Prima Amber Moon collection, a Tim Holtz small Etcetera tag, a huge stack of Sizzix Alterations Dies, and a pile of mixed media goodies and had myself a little Halloween party right in my studio.

Even though this is a small Etcetera tag, it is still huge, measuring a generous 5.5″ x 10″. This gave me lots and lots of room to create this gloriously ghoulish Halloween Night Scene.

Halloween Night Etcetera Tag: Prepping the Base

If you’ve never worked with one of these wonderful Etcetera tags, I have to tell you…they are devilishly delightful. Made with thickboard, they provide a thick, sturdy surface that just begs to be altered and embellished. Here are the steps you need to take to prepare the tag base.

First, paint the outer edges and sides of the tag with Prima Heavy Black Gesso.

Next, while the gesso is still wet, sprinkle the edges with Emerald Creek Charred Gold Embossing Powder.

Now heat set the powder and dry the gesso layer.

Next trim out a panel of 12″ x 12″ Amber Moon black/orange dot paper so that it is about 1/2″ smaller than the tag base.

Then distress the edges heavily and ink with Vintage Photo Distress Ink before gluing onto the tag base.

Now, tear a rectangle of 12″ x 12″ Amber Moon woodgrain paper to approximately 4.25″ x 5.5″. The rougher the edges, the better!

Next, use the Tim Holtz Birch Layering Stencil and Vintage Photo Ink to create a shadowy woodsy background on the woodgrain paper.

Then, apply Ranger Opaque Crackle Texture paste through the same stencil and set aside to dry. As the texture paste dries, it will not only crackle, it will allow the Vintage Photo Distress Ink to bleed through, creating a really creepy Halloween woods effect. To enhance this, once the paste was completely dry, I sponged it very lightly with Black Soot DI.

Finally, glue this panel in place on the tag.

Halloween Night Etcetera Tag: Creating the Creepy Moon and Owl

Next, we will prepare the creepy moon, woodland owl and distressed stars.

Die cut the Ornate Owl from brown cardstock.

Glue the die cut owl to a piece of Amber Moon paper. I used the pattern that looks like marble.

Ink along the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink.

Sprinkle with Distress Embossing Powders…not a lot…just a touch spread randomly around the surface. I used Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo and Scattered Straw.

While the texture paste is still wet, cover the moon liberally with Emerald Creek Hammered Metal Embossing Powder. Heat Emboss. The result is amazing. I got so excited at this point I could not stand my bad self.

While the texture paste is still wet, place stars in a funnel tray or on a sheet of plain paper and sprinkle liberally with Vintage Platinum Distress Glitter. Tap off the excess and put it back in the jar. Set aside to dry. Some of the glitter will release as the texture paste dries and the finished effect is really cool. Trust me.

Finally, glue the stars and moon to the prepared die cut chipboard pieces. I backed the moon with waste chipboard to elevate it.

Halloween Night Etcetera Tag: Cats and Bats and Jack-o-Lanterns

Now you will die cut the Hocus Pocus elements (cat, bat and witch hat) from both chipboard and black cardstock just as you did the Crescent Moon and stars.

For the Jack-o-Lanterns, die cut Amber Moon Diagonal Stripe paper and chipboard. Ink all the edges with Black Soot DI.

Dip the Amber Moon paper into the inky puddle until you like the way it looks.

Heat dry.

Dip more of the marble pattern Amber Moon paper into this same inky puddle.

Heat Dry

Spray liberally with Perfect Pearls Sunflower Sparkle Mist

Heat Dry

Glue paper pumpkins and chipboard pumpkins together.

Back with the prepared paper and trim.

I lined the mouth, eyes and nose with Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive and sprinkled in some Gourd-juss Prills for accent.

Add waste chipboard to the back side to elevate and glue in place on the tag.

Halloween Night Etcetera Tag: Finishing Touches

To finish off this shabby chic Halloween tag, I die cut Tim’s Tattered Florals and Tattered leaves from an assortment of Amber Moon papers. Then I colored them with Wilted Violet, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Frayed Burlap and Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide Inks. The flowers are shaped and layered then filled with mustard seeds.

I also custom dyed a long piece of seam binding ribbon for the bow.

Phew! That was a long post…I hope you didn’t faint!

Now it’s YOUR turn!

We would love to have you join the fun in this ‘Tis Near Halloween Challenge. You have until midnight (how appropriate!) on Tuesday, October 24th to link upyour very own vintage or shabby chic Halloween project.

Frilly and Funkie design team will choose our top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie. The next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Be sure to visit the Frilly and Funkie blog for more inspiration and to read all the guidelines for this challenge.

Hello, Friends! It’s time for another fun challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog. This go round, the lovely and talented Autumn is our hostess and the theme is “Show Us Your Stamps.” I broke out some of my favorite Tammy Tutterow stamps to create this Fall in Love Reversible Pocket Tag, but before I share it with you, let’s see what Autumn has to say about the challenge guidelines.

Challenge Theme: Show Us Your StampsOur challenge this round can be summed up with one word – STAMPS! We want to see you break out those stamps and get inky. There are so many ways to use stamps, and you probably have a few you have never even used – so come play along! We cannot wait to see your stamped vintage or shabby chic creations.

Fall in Love Reversible Tag with Prima Amber Moon and Distress Inks

It was pure inky good fun to work up this jumbo manila tag with Prima’s Amber Moon Paper Collection, Tammy Tutterow’s Stamps and Tim Holtz Distress Inks. I did not take step x step photos for this project, but I will share tips and tricks that I used along the way. Anyway, this is the front side of the tag….

….And this is the reverse side with the pocket. Now, let’s get down to the details.

Fall in Love Reversible Pocket Tag: Creating the Background

Begin by “smooshing” fall colored Distress Oxide Inks onto a non-stick craft sheet. The colors should be close together, but should not overlap.

Next, use a Distress Sprayer (or mister bottle) to add water to the inks until the inks begin to bead up.

Now, take the jumbo manila tag and lay it face down into the puddle of ink. I did not swipe the tag at this point. Instead, I just gently smoothed the back side.

Next, lift the tag from the inky puddle and heat until it is mostly dry.

Repeat this process until you are happy with the background ink. The important thing to remember is to dry between layers.

Look for little beads of ink and pick them up to add interesting layers to the tag.

I did swipe the tag through the ink toward the end, and it left lovely streaks.

Finally, spray Antique Brass Mica Spray onto the craft sheet and tap the tag into it. This will create lovely little sparkly flecks on the tag.

Let’s Stamp!

When it came to stamping the background, I did not use an acrylic block or stamp press, I just rolled a random area of the Big Cheesecloth Background Stamp over my Frayed Burlap Distress Ink pad. Then I randomly rolled it over the inky background. This added the lovely little dots of color and texture that you can see in this photo.

Next, i stamped Tammy’s “Make Today” sentiment with a Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I colored the open areas in with an alcohol ink marker.

I felt the sentiment needed a frame to anchor it to the tag. So I stamped Tammy’s Simple Line Border Stamp onto manila card. Next, I heat embossed it with super fine copper embossing powder. Then I colored it in with DOX inks and cut it out with my craft knife. Finally, the frame was backed with foam tabs to pop it up a bit.

This small rusted heart is stamped with Dear Ruby, then heat embossed with super fine copper embossing powder. I love the way this turned out!

Before you add the flowers and other embellishments, I recommend you complete the reverse side of the tag!

Fall in Love Reversible Pocket Tag: The Flip Side

To decorate the pocket on the back of the tag, I stamped and colored Tammy’s Sunflower Bunch . The little sentiment title is from Tammy’s Sentiments 2 Stamp and Die combo. Vintage buttons from my stash, a little burlap string bow and some fancy ric rac that my dear daughter in law gave me finished the job nicely.

So, What’s in the Pocket?

Just a Little Dose of Happy in the pocket, that’s all! I scored and folded a scrap of kraft cardstock to make this sweet little gift card/tea bag holder. The image is from the Amber Moon 3×4 Journal card stack. I just added Tammy’s sentiment to the center of the wreath and heat embossed with copper embossing powder.

A little teabag and a trio of small tags are inside.

I made these tiny tags by mopping up the ink left on my craft sheet. Then I added images from the Amber Moon 6×6 pad along with some ephemera stickers and snippets of fibers. I used Tim’s Tiny Attacher to hold the fibers in place.

Now It’s YOUR turn!

You are cordially invited to join the fun and play along in this Show Us Your Stamps Challenge. Simply create a vintage or shabby chic project following the challenge guidelines and link up at the Frilly and Funkie blog before midnight on Tuesday, October 10th.

The Frilly and Funkie team will choose our top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie. The next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

I hope I’ve inspired you to break out your stamps and play along. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Rusty Falling Leaves Mixed Media Tag for Frilly and Funkie Challenge

Hello, my friends! It’s a great day for a new challenge at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog. The lovely Autumn is our hostess this go round, and the theme is “A Little Rusty.” With summer coming to a close, I’m having fun creating fall projects. Rusty falling leaves are to be found everywhere on this mixed media chipboard tag. Before we take a look at the project, let’s see what Autumn has to say about this challenge:

Challenge Theme: A Little Rusty With the end of summer nearing, some of us have gotten a little rusty with our creating due to holidays and lazy days. For this challenge let’s break out a rusty color palette in preparation for fall. Whether you take the challenge literally and use rusted metal a faux rust technique, or just the color in your vintage or shabby chic project – the choice is up to you! We can’t wait to see your creativity in full swing!

Rusty Falling Leaves Mixed Media Tag…an Inky Good Time

As you can see from the photo, I had loads of fun with this rusty challenge!

This 5″ x 11.25″ chipboard tag was languishing in my stash, so I used it. But you could easily use the Tim Holtz Etcetera Tags that The Funkie Junkie Boutique carries in the shop. The thickness of this tag makes it perfect for mixed media projects like this one.

I’m sharing a step x step tutorial for this project over on the Frilly and Funkie blog this Saturday (Sept. 2). So today we’ll just mostly look at photos.

Rusty Falling Leaves are Everywhere

You can die cut these fun rusty fall leaves from rusted mesh using a Tim Holtz Tattered leaves die. Tapped with various distress paints, they add a lovely texture and rustic feel to this home decor piece. For even more texture, I added ribbon, burlap string and a cluster of WOC Chrysanthemums…perfect for fall, don’t you think?

Rusty falling leaves found a home at the top of my tag as well. They are clustered together with Rust Silky Crush Ribbon, burlap string, a vintage button and some painted metal leaf charms.

Rusty Falling Leaves and Rusty Layers

Building up this rusty background was a jolly good time. There are so many layers of gesso, texture paste, rust paste, Distress Oxide Inks, Mica Sprays, and Distress Sprays layered behind this focal image. Graphic 45’s Place in Time collection (the September pages) worked well with this rustic background.

Now It’s YOUR turn

Are you feeling a little rusty? Well, you are cordially invited to join us for this rust themed challenge.

Simply create your own vintage or shabby chic project following the challenge theme and guidelines. Then link your lovely artwork up on theFrilly and Funkie Challenge Blogbefore midnight on Tuesday, September 12th.

The team will choose their top four favorite project. The winner will be invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie. The next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

Hope you’ll join me on Saturday over at the Frilly and Funkie blog for Saturday Step x Step!

Hello, Friends! It’s time for another wonderful challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Blog. The incredibly inspiring Suzz is our hostess this go round, and the theme is “On the Cutting Edge”. With that in mind, I put together this little Home Sweet Forest Home Mixed Media Canvas. I’ll share all the details about it in a moment, but first, let’s see what Suzz has to say about this fun challenge.

Having recently acquired some beautiful new dies I thought it might be time to bring them out and show them off. This challenge is all about using your dies, punches or other cutting tools to create a masterpiece featuring at least one die cut / punched image. Make sure your art is in the vintage or shabby chic style and incorporates a die cut or punch.

Home Sweet Forest Home Mixed Media Canvas

Let’s see…how many ways did I use die cuts:

Sizzix Tiny House Die

Tim Holtz Lace Die

Fall Foliage Leaf Die

Tim Holtz Mixed Media Die #2 ( the cutaway portion of my focal image)

First, I added a layer of gesso to this 8″ x 10″ canvas. While the paint was drying, I hand stitched around the edges of an 8″ x 10″ piece of natural burlap. Next, I used Matte Mixed Media to attach it to the canvas.

While the glue was drying, I die cut chipboard and Tim Holtz Wallflower paper with the Sizzix Tiny Homes Die. This was assembled and transformed in to a wee bird house, complete with Spanish Moss Rooftop, some “found” string, and speckled eggs in a nest.

I colored seam binding ribbon with Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide Inks. Then I tied a loopy bow. This was tucked in under the pretty yellow Petaloo Botanica Blossoms on the roof.

Home Sweet Forest Home Mixed Media Canvas: It’s all About Texture and Layers

The burlap layer provides wonderful texture for my layered leaves, Prills, Wendy Vecchi Mini Bricks, and lots of other goodies. I decoupaged some beetle eaten leaves that my fellow teamie Sara Emily gave me a few years back. First I spritzed them with Mica Spray, then I gently added Matte Multi Medium to both sides and pressed them into the burlap layer.

While the Matte Medium was still wet, I sprinkled some Gourd-geous Prills over it. This added wonderful color and texture.

Art is All Around You

Many of these botanical items were picked up on my walks at the park. The super tiny pine cones, lichen covered tree branch, sticks, moss, etc give this canvas a wonderfully woodsy feel. Art is all around you if you keep an eye out for it!

I also die cut a number of leaves, spritzed them with Antique Bronze Mica Spray and layered into the vignette.

Think twice before you toss an item into the trash!The negative space from the Wendy Vecchi Mini Bricks Mat Board makes a great platform for my sentiment.

First, I tapped the Baroque Frame with Ginger Alcohol Ink

Next, I wanted to add this speckled egg image to the frame. So I used the inside of the frame as a template. I just traced around the egg, then cut it out slightly larger than the pencil line.

Erase the pencil line!

Next, I added a custom sentiment with Botanical Remnant Rubs.

Then, I added Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive to the back side of the frame and pressed it over the egg/sentiment.

Finally, I glued the frame over the scrap from Mini Bricks .

Now It’s YOUR Turn

You’re invited to play along with us! Simply create your own vintage or shabby chic project that fits in with the “On the Cutting Edge” theme. Then link it up over on the Frilly and Funkie Blog before midnight on Tuesday, August 29th. You can find all the guidelines for the challenge HERE.

At the end of the challenge the team will choose their top four picks. Our first place winner will be invited to join us for a Guest Designer spot at Frilly and Funkie. Three additional talented participants will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and adheres to the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

Summer Sunflowers Mixed Media Tag with Distress Oxide Inks and Ribbon

Hello, Ribbon Lovers! There is something about sunflowers that makes me happy every time I see them. Today I’ve combined a bunch of mixed media techniques with a summery sunflower image. It’s all tied together with gorgeous ribbons from the July Perfectly Purple Ribbon Club Mix. The end product is this Summer Sunflowers Mixed Media tag.

Then spritz the ink blotches with a mister bottle until little beads form.

Now, drag the tag through the inky puddle.

Then dry the tag with a heat gun. You can use a paper towel to blot up any spots that are overly wet or inky.

When the tag is somewhat dry, tap up more ink from the craft sheet, drying between each layer.

Now that you are happy with the ink, add texture by running the tag through an embossing folder. I used a Spellbinders Emboss-abilities folder called Enchanted. First, I inked the “flat” side of the folder (the side with no raised edges) with Dusty Concord ink. Then I embossed the tag.

Next, I spritzed the tag lightly with water to activate the Distress Oxide Inks that was pressed into the design by the folder.

Then, I heat dried the tag and spritzed it lightly with Tarnished Brass Distress Mica Spray.

Finally, I sponged lightly over the top of the tag with Dusty Concord Distress Ink

Let Today Last Forever

I created a little sentiment cluster with this pretty sunflower image and some tags.